Murfreesboro, TN - The UT-TSU Agricultural Extension Service has news for soybean farmers—and it could save their next harvest. Tennessee farmers are being urged to take advantage of free nematode soil testing this fall, a service offered by the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center. Again it's free for in-state farmers, but-of-state producers can also participate for just $15 per sample.

Soybeans are Tennessee’s leading agricultural commodity, and Rutherford County reflects that trend. According to the USDA, 71% of this county’s agricultural sales come from soybeans, a crop valued both domestically and abroad. But lurking below the surface, nematodes—microscopic roundworms—may be quietly robbing yields.

“These pests overwinter in fields and reproduce quickly, with some species generating up to six generations a year,” explains Heather Kelly, Extension specialist and plant pathology researcher. “If you’re already collecting soil for nutrient or pH testing, it’s easy to include a sample for nematode analysis.”

Farmers should collect samples after harvest and before the first frost using a soil probe angled near the root zone. At least 20 plugs taken in a zigzag pattern across the field should be combined into one quart of soil. Samples should be kept cool and delivered promptly to the lab in Jackson or shipped overnight with a completed submission form.

The lab can identify soybean cyst, reniform, root knot and lesion nematodes. “Soybean cyst nematodes alone can reduce yields by up to 14 bushels per acre,” Kelly warns. “Early testing helps farmers take action before next season.”

Submission forms are available at utcrops.com under “Soybean Diseases & Nematodes” or via tinyurl.com/yn7cbne5. For questions, contact Heather Kelly at youngkelly@tennessee.edu or 731-425-4713, or reach out to your local Extension office.